Phx-Suns.Net

The Bobster wrote:Boy that sure brings back some memories.

Walter Davis's sweet jumper. Ron Lee careening across the floor after a loose ball. Alvan Adams shooting from the top of the key. Paul Westphal with a left-handed layup. Gar Heard shooting his rainbow jumper. Alvin Scott skying to block a shot.

It's 1977-78 for me all over again!

Superbone wrote:Cool pics, Indy!

“I think we’ve had an excellent camp,” said Tyson Chandler, who was serenaded by rookies Devin Booker and Kyle Casey for his 33rd birthday Friday. “To be honest, in my 15 years, this has been one of the best camps, especially (Thursday’s SEALs training), as far as bonding, really coming together. We went through some stuff (Thursday) and it brought us closer, which I’m truly excited about. I think it’s something that, not only as a team but individual, we can carry out. We learned a lot. It was big time.

“It pushed us to the limit. When you feel like you’ve got nothing left but you’re only doing it for the guy to the left and right of you, it only brings you closer.”

The Suns returned for a public game at Veterans Memorial Coliseum for the first time since 1992 with something for every era of Suns fan.

The orange seats were still there, separated by the familiar concrete steps with painted row numbers. Hundreds of fans lined up on the entrance ramps outside the Madhouse on McDowell more than two hours before the scrimmage to get peek at the new-look Suns and the old look of a building that was home for the franchise’s first 24 years.

Nothing stood out more the rare public presence of Hall of Famer Connie Hawkins, a Suns Ring of Honor member who once had his retired No. 42 hanging alone in the Coliseum rafters with Dick Van Arsdale’s No. 5.

Hawkins is a Valley resident but the only event that brings him out is the Cotton Mile, a Turf Paradise horse race that honors late Suns Ring of Honor member Cotton Fitzsimmons. He does not do interviews but agreed Saturday to share one bit of reminiscing about his first Coliseum visit in more than 40 years.

“My favorite opponent was Wilt Chamberlain with the Lakers,” Hawkins, 73, said, “because they were always on top and the Suns were always on the bottom then and the environment was always great in here.”

The only downturn to the night was the introduction of Markieff Morris, who heard a mix of cheers and boos after a tumultuous offseason with the franchise. He embraced being with the Suns at training camp all week in Flagstaff but was held out of Saturday’s scrimmage due to a hip strain.

A storybook return to Veterans Memorial Coliseum ended with a finish worthy of a script.

With about 8,000 fans showing up to see a new Suns team in the franchise’s old building, the Suns carried over the theme of a competitive camp with a tight intrasquad scrimmage Saturday that came down to the team star's game-winner.

Running a high pick-and-roll with Tyson Chandler to rub off defender Brandon Knight, Eric Bledsoe drove past the outstretched arm of Alex Len for a lay-in in the final seconds that put “Team MacLeod” ahead by one. Brandon Knight missed a long 3 at the buzzer for “Team Cotton” to cap a long day for the Suns, who began Saturday with a camp-closing morning practice in Flagstaff.

The game-winning shot capped a game in which Bledsoe continued the powerful drives that highlighted training camp. He and rookie guard Devin Booker shared the winning team’s scoring lead with 15 points.

Eric Bledsoe, 15; Devin Booker, 15; Sonny Weems, 14; Jon Leuer, 12; Mirza Teletovic, 12; Brandon Knight, 10; Archie Goodwin, 10; Alex Len, 8; Cory Jefferson, 8; Ronnie Price, 8; T.J. Warren, 6; Henry Sims, 5; Tyson Chandler, 4; P.J. Tucker, 4; Terrico White, 2; Kyle Casey, 0; Markieff Morris, DNP.

Indy wrote:VMC doesn't have the facilities to broadcast this.

Devin Booker's play, persona belie age for Phoenix Suns

Devin Booker is the youngest player in the NBA. Heck, he was one of the youngest people on campus last week when the Suns held training camp at Northern Arizona University.

Other than an upcoming 19th birthday on Oct. 30, indicators of Booker’s youth have been as rare as frowns from a rookie going through his first Suns experiences.

Booker shared the scoring lead Saturday night in the Suns’ intrasquad scrimmage at Veterans Memorial Coliseum, matching teammate Eric Bledsoe with 15 points for the winning team. Nobody matched Booker for reception from fans, who welcomed him with the loudest ovation even before he made five of 11 shots, including two of four 3-pointers to fortify his shooting reputation.

Even when Bledsoe missed, it was a polished move like a pump fake with a dribble drive to the baseline for a runner. He had a second-quarter stretch of seven points in a minute when he scored on a 3-pointer, driving layup and two free throws. It was consistent with the impression that he put on coaches and teammates for the past few weeks of pickup games in Phoenix and training camp in Flagstaff.

“The kid knows how to play,” Suns coach Jeff Hornacek said. Read more...